Improvement in key-fasteners



J. W. JOHNSON.

Key-Fastener.

No. 203,161. Patented April 30,1878.

FIG,6.

FIG-5.

flttegit- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WILLIAM JOHNSON, OF OINOIN N ATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN KEY- FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,161, dated April30, 1878; application filed July 29, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WM. J oHNsoN, of the city of Cincinnati, Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments inKey-Guards, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of slotted plates or guards whichare applied to the inner escutcheon of a lock, either for the purpose ofpreventing the key being accidentally detached or else to prevent thekey being turned from the outside.

My invention consists in a novel construction of the escutcheon andswinging guardplate, whereby the key can be readily and securely lockedin one position, and as readily unlocked.

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of my invention, the guardplatebeing swung aside from the key-hole. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same,showing the guard-plate locked and engaged with the non-circular part ofa key. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the locking deviceof the same. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show a modification of the lockingdevice.

A represents the inner escutcheon of a lock, said escutcheon beingprovided with a keyhole having the customary eye B and slot b. Pivotedto this escutcheon at a is a swinging plate, 0, notched or slotted fromone side at c to fit around the non-circular portion D of any key barrelor pipe, as represented in Fig. 2. The swinging guard-plate is providedat its free end with a tongue, 0, adapted to enter a groove, 6, in lugE, which latter may be cast with escutcheon A, or it may be secured tosaid escutcheon when it is applied to the door. The guard-plate O istapped near its lower end to receive a screw, F, whose external knob orhead G serves as a handle wherewith said plate may be readily swungaside either to the right or left. Screw F is furnished with a pin orcollar, f, to prevent said device F being detached from plate 0. Thispin or collar traverses the chambered portion H of guard G, as clearlyseen in Figs. 3 and 6.

In this form of my invention the plate 0 is swung to the left, so as tocause its slot 0 to embrace the non-circular shank D of the key, afterwhich knob G is rotated in such manner as to introduce the inner end ofscrew F within the slot 1) of the key-hole. In this position of thevarious parts it is apparent that the key cannot be turned by anyimplement applied at the outside of the door; neither can the guard beshifted aside so as to be disengaged from said key. Furthermore, thetongue 0 and groove 0 effectually prevent the guardplate being sprungaway from the escutcheon A, so as to allow dislodgment of the key.

In the modification of my invention represented in Figs. 4., 5, and 6,the inner end of screw F fits into a slight pit or depression, I, formedon the inner surface of the escutcheon A. With this exception the guardis essentially the same as represented in Figs. 1., 2, and 3.

It is immaterial whether the locking device employed is of the formshown in Fig.1 or like the device shown in Fig. 4., so far as thefunctions of the knob are concerned, as the latter member serves as ahandle to the guardplate in either of these cases.

I claim as my invention- In combination with the escutcheon A B b E cand swinging guard-plate O c c, the knob G and screw F, which latterengages either with slot 1) or pit I, substantially as described.

JOHN WILLIAM JOHNSON.

Attest:

WM. J. APPLEGATE, O. WALTON, Jr.

